New Year.......New Beginnings..........

Happy 2019 Quilters!!!!!

I have hit the ground running, as they say!
2019 is a year full of quiltiness.
I will be teaching, lecturing, and sharing my life
more than I ever have with all of you!  It will be a make it or break it year for me.
I will hopefully be able to answer several questions for my future as to whether I can pursue this passion in my life called quilting, and make do with less flying.

New Year's Day sewing......and eating!

Gotta have them black-eyed peas on the first day

of the new year!

Now, if the other 364 days could be just like this

with good food, and good sewing!

Clue 7 for Bonnie Hunter's

Quiltville Mystery

Good Fortune

was completed on New Year's Day!

I was then off to Rockford, Illinois

to share with the

Sinnissippi Quilters.

It was a very nice drive.....and I kept on seeing

FLYING GEESE!

In the air, and on bridges!!!!

I had 2 trunkshows/lectures with this guild, one during

the day, and one at night.

I think that is so nice that they offer 2

different meetings for those who work

and can't make it to the day time session.

Huffman's Hotties made an appearance!

These gals were a hoot!

My most sincere apologies to the Hotties

during the evening trunk show.....no pic!!!!

I was greeted by this sweet quilter, Sue who blogs at

Blessings of Thread.

We have chatted back and forth via emails, 

and it was so nice to finally meet her!

Thanks for coming and supporting me Sue!

The t-shirt I am wearing was a gift from

my sister for Christmas!

"I turn thread and fabric into quilts.....

what's your superpower?"

LOLOLOL

And, this is Susan, who also came to see me.

I love meeting those of you who enjoy reading the ole'blog!

It was a pleasure meeting you!

Susan gifted me these awesome chicken fabrics!

And look at that awesome Rooster quilt hanger!

Thank you so much for everything Susan!

In between lectures I was able to chat with one of the 

many talented quilters that belong to this group.

This is Robin Gausebeck who I had the pleasure of meeting.

I knew who she was immediately when I saw her.

Her miniature work is amazing.

Please go see her work

HERE.

"In Flanders Fields" is truly a 

moving piece of art!

Thanks for the chat Robin!

Some of the quilters from the guild and I 

had dinner at

Stockholm Inn.

Who knew Rockford, Illinois was so

Swedish inspired???

We had an amazing dinner, and wonderful conversation!

Thanks for the memories quilters!

I wanted authentic Swedish food since I have never had

any to my knowledge?

I ordered the Kroppkakor.

Interesting....

I absolutely loved the cardamon roll and

lingonberry coffee!

And look whose portrait was on the wall

staring at me???

Doesn't this look like a little

Lori of

Humble Quilts????

LOLOLOLOL

I know, I know.....you are Danish,

not Swedish! LOLOLOL

And who knew Sock Monkeys were created in

Rockford, Illinois???

Well, they were......

look HERE!

They were almost everywhere you turned!

The next day it was time to

RISE & SHINE

it's

Quilting time!

I LOVE this shirt my sister

got me for Christmas!

She did really good this year! LOLOL

We had to rise and shine for a "String Star" workshop

held at the Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.

We had a nice work area where machines were

humming, and strings were flying.

Truth be told, these quilters were very

experienced, and didn't need much help from me.

But, we all had a lot of fun!

Marge was my contact for this guild, and 

here she is very pleased with her first

string pieced diamond.

Crisp neutral diamond sections waiting to be pressed.

We were visited by Dee who brought in some fun

antique quilts to examine.

Look at this.....I love it.....crumb/string piecing

made into columns.

This quilt was amazing!

Each block has 100 triangles in it.....

do you see the quarter to gauge the size?

I suggested it be a Leader/Ender project for Bonnie Hunter! 

LOL

Thanks for sharing your quilts Dee!

Before long, stars were coming together!

Talking design decisions with quilters is so much fun!

Teacher's pets!  First ones done with their stars!

Great job quilters!!!!

We had a very successful class!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Rockford!

Thanks to the

Sinnissippi Quilters for their hospitality!

While I was travelling, the final reveal

of "Good Fortune" came out!

I couldn't wait to start assembling my

Halloween version!

And this is how far I have gotten.

I have a feeling I may be snowed in this weekend....

this should occupy my time nicely?

Linking with 

Mystery Monday Link- Up, The Reveal

Make sure to visit all of the wonderful

versions of this quilt being made

all over the world!

And here are some chicken pics for those of

you who can't get enough.....

My friend Linda surprised me with

some beautiful chicken tea towels!

Thanks so much Linda!

I LOVE THEM!

and.....

true......very, very true!

LOLOLOLOL

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Thanks for being a friend!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter